New Insights into Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus on Diagnosis and Genetic Characterization of Parasites: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

This second volume of this Special Issue follows on from the success of the first. Thus, we invite you to publish your research in this edition, titled “New Insights into Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease: Focus on Diagnosis and Genetic Characterization of Parasites” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/4C09DKNM3C).

Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease (CD), caused by the kinetoplastid protozoa Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively, are among the most relevant neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Both infections affect millions of people worldwide and are considered a global challenge.

Leishmaniasis is endemic in more than 90 territories, and an increasing number of non-endemic countries also face imported cases as a consequence of globalization. Clinical manifestations and disease outcomes are diverse, depending on several patient-related factors, as well as the Leishmania species involved. Therefore, both diagnostic and typing techniques are essential to guide patient management and treatment. Moreover, parasite characterization contributes to improving surveillance and disease control, allowing us to monitor the geographical distribution of strains, their epidemiological cycles, and to detect outbreaks. Nevertheless, the great heterogeneity surrounding Leishmania makes it particularly challenging. Nowadays, a wide range of techniques are available, and each laboratory runs those that best suit their needs and the question to be answered.

On the other hand, CD has gradually spread from Latin America to the rest of the world and is now transmitted in non-endemic countries through non-vectorial routes, such as congenital transmission. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential in managing the infection. However, the wide diversity of available diagnostic methods, algorithms, and protocols among regions highlights the need for a common and agreed-upon strategy. In addition, although the associations with the clinical presentation of the disease are not yet well understood, the genetic diversity of T. cruzi also seems to play a key role in CD diagnosis. Unfortunately, taxonomic studies are hampered by the lack of standardized molecular typing methods and the use of alternative nomenclatures over the years. The current consensus is based on discrete typing units (DTUs) as T. cruzi genetic subdivisions.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, which is focused on the diagnosis and genetic diversity of these important parasitic infections, by submitting original articles, reviews, and short communications. Our aim is to highligh the latest developments in the field and to gather new insights and perspectives in this area. Potential topics may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Laboratory diagnostics of Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
• Detection and characterization of Leishmania and T. cruzi parasites in humans, vectors, and reservoirs.
• Identification of Leishmania species and intra-species genetic diversity.
• Identification of T. cruzi DTUs and genetic variability intra-DTUs.

Dr. Alba Abras
Dr. Cristina Ballart
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• leishmania

• leishmaniasis
• chagas disease
• American trypanosomiasis
• Trypanosoma cruzi
• diagnostics
• genetic diversity
• characterization
• neglected tropical disease